The epidemic situation remains grim and complex and it is now a most crucial moment to curb the spread.The Chinese nation has experienced many ordeals in its history, but it has never been overwhelmed. Instead, it has become more and more courageous, growing up and rising up from the hardships.

Statistics only include 26 provincial-level regions that have reported zero new confirmed cases on Feb. 25

Statistics are collected as of the last day that has no new confirmed cases before Feb. 25

Only 31 provincial-level regions and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps are counted

 (as of Feb. 26)

 (as of Feb. 27)

 (as of Feb. 27)

Countries with more than 10 confirmed cases

 (as of Feb. 28)

Chinese and Russian experts are making progress in jointly developing drugs and vaccines for the COVID-19 as the outbreak continues to impact China and the world. Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said Moscow sent a team of experts to China earlier this month and is working with their Chinese counterparts to develop drugs for the virus. The work is "making initial progress," he said.

The European Union has confirmed it will pledge US$250 million to help the "global fight" against the COVID-19 outbreak. Janez Lenarcic, EU's Commissioner for Crisis Management, and Stella Kyriakidou, the Food Safety Commissioner, made the announcement at a press conference in Brussels on February 24.

Italy reported its seventh death from the new coronavirus Monday (February 24), but officials called for calm and reported a lower rise in the number of infections after a spike over the weekend. The number of cases now stood at 229, the head of Italy's civil protection department Angelo Borelli said at a press conference on Monday evening, the highest number in Europe. However, this means that only ten new cases had been added since the previous total on Monday morning, a much slower rate than the previous few days.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed the urgency of developing a "basic policy" to curb the spread of the virus. The priority, he said at the 12th Cabinet meeting on COVID-19, as the disease caused by the virus is known, is to build a system that can slow the speed of infections and prevent sick patients from falling severely ill. He delegated this task to Health Minister Katsunobu Kato, as he noted the outbreak is at a "crucial phase" as there are patients in multiple areas where the chain of transmission is unknown. Japan is considering using Avigan, an anti-flu drug, to treat coronavirus patients. Mr Abe noted that some hospitals have begun administering the drug to patients, and urged all-out efforts to find an effective treatment.

South Korea warned that its fragile economic recovery is under threat from the coronavirus that has spread dramatically across the country over the past week, and pledged action to minimize the fallout. The number of infections in South Korea soared from just over 30 to more than 833 in the past week, with the virus claiming the lives of at least seven people so far. The spike has led President Moon Jae-in to raise the country's infectious disease alert to the highest level for the first time since 2009, allowing the government to restrict public activities.

By Xinhua

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Responding to a call of the CPC Central Committee to all Party members, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng all made donations to support the COVID-19 prevention and control work.

Addressing the meeting, Xi said the positive trend in preventing and controlling the epidemic is expanding and economic and social development is rapidly recovering, but the situation in Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan remains complex and grim, and the risk of a rebound of the epidemic in other regions can not be overlooked.

Xi said at this moment it is important to make unremitting epidemic containment efforts and accelerate all aspects of work in economic and social development.

He told Party committees and governments at all levels to accurately grasp the epidemic as well as economic and social development situations to ensure winning the people's war against the epidemic and achieving the goals of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and poverty alleviation.

The meeting stressed continuing to concentrate strength and resources on epidemic prevention and control in Hubei and Wuhan to contain the source of infection and cut off the routes of transmission.

The meeting called for efforts to save and cure more patients that are severely ill and attend to patients with mild symptoms in a timely manner, as well as prompt efforts to equip frontline medical workers with protective gear that is in urgent need.

Prevention and control work in Beijing and other key provincial-level regions should be strengthened to resolutely block any possible source of infection, according to the meeting.

The meeting demanded better protection measures for special venues such as the elderly care, childcare and mental health facilities where vulnerable groups of people are housed in enclosed premises.

Protection should also be strengthened for people who work on the front line to battle the epidemic, those who have direct contact with medical waste, and those who provide service in enclosed premises, the meeting added.

Resumption of work and production should be carried out in a targeted, steady and safe manner, according to the meeting, which also called for swift and faithful implementation of policies benefiting enterprises.

The meeting also stressed cooperation and communication with the World Health Organization and other relevant countries in sharing epidemic control experience and coordinating measures to safeguard public health security in the region and the world. 

The Chinese nation has experienced many ordeals in its history, but it has never been overwhelmed. Instead, it has become more and more courageous, growing up and rising up from the hardships.

The epidemic prevention and control work in Beijing should be carried out with all-out efforts.

In general, the fundamentals of China’s long-term sound economic growth remain unchanged, the impact of the epidemic on China’s economic and social development is temporary and generally manageable.

No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win.

The epidemic situation remains grim and complex and it is now a most crucial moment to curb the spread.

This is both a crisis and a big test for us.

Dr Zhong Nanshan, the country's leading infectious disease expert, said on Feb. 27 during the press briefing by Information Office of Guangzhou Municipal Government that China's swift intervention, such as locking down the epicentre Wuhan, helped prevent the outbreak from erupting in other cities.

He had earlier predicted that the epidemic would peak in mid to late February. Meanwhile, the number of infected cases has been falling since Feb. 15.

"We are confident the epidemic would basically be under control by late April," he added.

According to authorities, many provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have been reporting no new confirmed cases for several days in a row.

"In addition to offering effective treatment for patients in serious condition, great efforts should be made to diagnose suspected cases and distinguish between COVID-19 and common flu patients to prevent more infections between people on the mainland in the following months, Zhong said.

But he said the fast-growing number of confirmed cases outside China is an unpredictable variable. Zhong said he could not accurately forecast the development of the epidemic in other countries and regions as the number of confirmed cases reported in foreign countries and regions has now surpassed the figure reported on Chinese mainland.

Zhong said he does not think China will see a large increase in confirmed cases in the coming months after effective and concrete measures were introduced to prevent and control the outbreak, even when many migrant workers from around the mainland are still travelling across provinces to return to work. He added that though the first case of novel coronavirus pneumonia was reported in China, its source may not come from the country.

Zhong also said that the novel coronavirus has a prominent feature whereby patients have a large amount of very sticky mucus in their small airways.

"We can't draw an absolute conclusion at present and have to follow its development closely. But according to the laws of microorganisms, those with enough antibodies will not be infected again," Zhong added.

He urged expansion of international cooperation in the fight against the infectious disease in the weeks to come.

Zhong revealed he has been invited by European countries to give a video address to his European counterparts over the weekend to explain China's current situation and solid experience in fighting the epidemic.

Other countries may be inspired by China's experiences, he said.

— World Voices —

— World Voices —

Singapore reaffirms support for China's efforts to combat outbreak

— World Voices —

WHO praises China's approach in combating COVID-19 epidemic

— World Voices —

African Union’s CDC praises China’s efforts in controlling virus

By Ma Miaomiao

China expands business operations with a precise approach that attaches different priorities to regions in light of their health risks

After fluctuating at a low level for two weeks, the "resumption power index" which can reflect the number of enterprises that have returned to work in east China's Jiangxi Province shows an upward trend.

The index grew by 16 points from February 13 to 24. "Based on the model calculation, every point of increase means that about 1,000 enterprises have resumed business," said Hu Zhiqiang from the State Grid Jiangxi Electric Power Co., Ltd.

As the barometer of economic growth, the index shows Jiangxi's economy is accelerating to recover from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Hu added.

By February 25, a total of 78,064 people on the Chinese mainland had been confirmed as being infected, and 2,715 had died. Meanwhile, the daily number of newly cured and discharged coronavirus patients had surpassed that of new infections for eight consecutive days.

As positive signs started emerging in China's battle against the epidemic, the country is meticulously expanding business operations with a precise approach that attaches different priorities to regions in light of their health risks.

Local authorities are ordered to take region-specific approaches when advancing resumption of work and production based on local health risks, according to decisions at a central authorities meeting.

Regions with relatively low risks should focus on preventing imported cases and comprehensively restoring the order of production and life. Medium-risk regions should promote work and production resumption in an orderly manner based on local situations, while high-risk regions should continue to be fully committed to epidemic prevention and control.

Jiangxi Province now places its counties and districts in three risk groups that correspond to different epidemic prevention measures to mitigate the impact on the economy.

Four out of 100 counties and districts in the province were classified as high-risk areas, 18 as medium and the other 78 as low. The risk level can be dynamically adjusted based on epidemic situations.

With no confirmed cases of infection or no new cases reported on 18 consecutive days, a total of 40 low-risk counties and districts, including Shanggao, lowered their emergency response from Level I to Level II or III on February 25.

To push for work resumption, Shanggao County has dispatched more than 170 cadres to help enterprises solve problems involving labor, raw materials, logistics and funds that hamper their business resumption. A total of 156 industrial enterprises above designated size, around 90.7 percent of the total, have returned to work in the county.

Jiangxi is sending more cadres to assist its companies, striving to cover all epidemic control material producers and industrial enterprises above designated size, said Xin Qinghua, deputy head of the provincial department of industry and information technology.

Meanwhile, the province gave business resumption priority to firms upstream of the supply chain, such as those producing basic raw materials.

Nanchang Cemented Carbide LLC is a producer of milling cutters, which are key tools used for manufacturing medical equipment. During the epidemic, the company had difficulties to deliver goods due to transport restrictions.

Nanchang Economic and Technological Development Zone, where the company is located, helped find logistics enterprises to deliver the milling cutters with lower transport costs.

"With smooth logistics, we can now speed up our production," said Zhang Yuqi, Deputy General Manager of Nanchang Cemented Carbide LLC.

Differentiated measures

Besides Jiangxi, many Chinese local governments have taken differentiated measures to ensure the resumption of normal economic activities on the premise of virus containment.

On February 20, Changchun, capital of northeastern China’s Jilin Province, issued a circular requesting the related government departments to help companies solve problems such as labor, funds and gas supply shortages and encourage small hotels to work with employers to accommodate their workers.

The districts with no confirmed COVID-19 cases or no new cases for 14 consecutive days may further relax the control on the operation resumption of the companies and the personnel flow, it said.

Changchun is home to one of the country's largest automobile makers, FAW Group, as well as a slew of auto parts and components producers. At one FAW factory, work resumed on February 22 on two shifts with some 300 vehicles rolling off the assembly line a day.

To ensure workers' health, the administration of Changchun Automotive Economic-Technological Development Area, where the factory is located, allocated disinfectant to the workshops and helped rent hotels and college dormitory buildings to quarantine more than 7,200 returned workers.

So far, over 90 percent of the enterprises in the development area have resumed operation.

Liu Guoqiang, Vice Governor of the People's Bank of China, said the epidemic's pressure on the economy will be short-lived and will not change the country's sound economic fundamentals.

More Chinese provinces, including Liaoning, Gansu, Anhui and Guangdong, have lowered their emergency response level after reporting no new cases for several days.

To facilitate work resumption, the country has loosened traffic controls and arranged buses, trains and flights to bring migrant workers back to factories. Tax and fees for industries heavily impacted by the epidemic have been lowered to alleviate social security burdens on the employers.

The Ministry of Commerce has pledged to facilitate foreign-invested enterprises to resume production, especially to industry leaders, to keep the global supply chain stable.

In Dongguan, a manufacturing hub in Guangdong Province, a total of 5,791 foreign-funded enterprises had resumed work, including 60 percent of large and medium-sized ones as of February 23.

The Shanghai Association of Foreign Investment found, based on a survey over 697 key foreign-funded enterprises in Shanghai, that more than 90 percent of surveyed firms in the service sector and about 70 percent of those in the manufacturing industry have resumed operation.

By February 22, a total of 10,680 industrial enterprises above designated size in Jiangxi, around 83.9 percent of the total, have resumed business with more than 1 million people back to work, according to local authorities.

"With a raft of supportive policies, the resumption power index in Jiangxi will maintain its upward trend. Work and production back on track will continue injecting vitality into economic growth," Hu said.

Back on track with caution

Autopsies on 11 deceased COVID-19 patients' bodies have been conducted in the last week in China with vital discoveries being made on the disease, according to an autopsy team in Wuhan. 

From February 16 to Monday, a team led by Liu Liang, a forensic specialist from the Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, finished autopsies on nine deceased COVID-19 patients and achieved vital discoveries, media reported Tuesday. 

Liu told the media that he would discuss with clinical doctors the findings, which would improve understanding of the virus. 

The discoveries have been reported to related authorities and possibly would be officially released soon, a member from Liu's team told the Global Times on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.

The member said that the team would continue working on the samples. "There is a lot of work that has not finished yet."

Liu said his team had finished pathological studies on three of the nine samples they dissected, whose ages ranged from 52 to 80. Twenty members of the team are accelerating the research on the rest of the samples, according to Liu. 

An autopsy is the most direct means to uncover the virus, Wang Guoping, another co-leader of Liu's autopsy team and doctor from the Wuhan Tongji Hospital affiliated with the university, told media. 

Comparison between pathologic changes and clinical changes can help to reveal the nosogenesis of the disease and study the cause of death, thus improving clinical treatment and disease prevention and control, Wang said. 

The effectiveness of autopsies was proven as early as 2003 in the SARS crisis. At the early stage of the crisis, it was widely believed that SARS was caused by chlamydia. But Ding Yanqing, a pathologist from the First Military Medical University, conducted autopsies on deceased patients later and revealed that SARS was caused by a virus, leading the fight against SARS to a new stage.   

Besides Liu's team, two more other autopsies have been finished by Bian Xiuwu and a team from Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, according to media reports. 

Editor’s Note: Steven Lynch, Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China (BritCham), spoke with China Focus editor Jamie Leigh Wright about the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on British businesses in China.

The BritCham MD discussed his thoughts on the controversial UK travel announcement, the Chinese Government’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and how British companies are assisting China in the fight against the deadly virus.

By Jamie Leigh Wright

I will remain here in Beijing and support Chambers members in the best way possible.

China Focus: How has the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) impacted the BritCham members’ business operations in China?

Steven Lynch: In order to adhere to the guidance of social distancing, we have cancelled all our events until at least the middle of March and created a webinar series to better support current business needs. We have also been focusing our policy efforts towards better understanding the implications of the virus in relation to China’s market.

China Focus: What are the main challenges experienced by British businesses in China? And what is being done to overcome these challenges?

Steven Lynch: The British Chamber of Commerce launched an initial impact report to understand the effect of COVID-19 on British businesses in China, and 97 percent of businesses surveyed noted a severe disruption to their operations. Many noted a decreased demand for their products and services, compounded by widespread uncertainty and disruption to their supply chains.

Many organisations, however, have sophisticated contingency plans which enables a rapid response to crises such as this. Almost every company has implemented remote working policies to ensure some level of business continuity. It is clear that in the short term this will be damaging for businesses but I remain confident that the market will rebound and long-term prospects will remain in China.

China Focus: On February 4, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised British nationals to leave China. What were your initial thoughts on this?

Steven Lynch: My experience during this period is that the situation changes daily. Companies, governments and authorities are regularly reconsidering their position on COVID-19, and updating contingency plans accordingly. The recent FCO announcement certainly created initial uncertainty for many, but from speaking with the FCO, it is clear that the safety of British nationals is paramount.

The decision to leave or stay is a personal choice to which everyone must decide based on their own personal circumstance, geographic location and the information currently at hand. Looking at the data available from the Chinese authorities and from the World Health Organization (WHO), it is apparent that the number of cases differs regionally within China. It is important that people pay close attention to local restrictions and travel advice whilst also following all preventative measures specific to where they and their teams are based.

I will remain here in Beijing and support Chamber members in the best way possible.

China Focus: BritCham recently noted that a great many of British businesses would like to remain in China and help in the fight against the coronavirus. Could you tell me more about this?

Steven Lynch: British companies across China are lending support in countless, but equally important ways. Some are providing direct financial donations to medical associations on the ground in Hubei, some are providing free advice to small businesses trying to assess the impact on their operations, and some are supplying staff with medical equipment from their UK offices.

The Chamber is incredibly proud of the way the British business community in China has come together to help where they can during this difficult time.

China Focus: What steps (if any) would you like to see the governments of the UK and China take in order to assist British businesses affected by the coronavirus?

Steven Lynch: Firstly, I think it is essential to look at both the short-term immediate measures needed and long-term recovery efforts. In the short term, businesses need consistent and reliable information on current regulations and policies (in place from both the Chinese and UK governments) and how this may impact their operations in China.

Many British businesses are really feeling the financial pitch to stay open let alone offer any sort of business continuity, so we hope to see government support in order to ease the pressures. I am delighted to hear HM Trade Commissioner for China Richard Burn is in the UK speaking to UK Export Finance and others on how the UK government can support businesses in these exceptional circumstances.

In the longer term, I believe businesses need support in building a framework around resilience and better continuity planning to mitigate any future risks, I especially believe this is true for SMEs, many of which are genuinely struggling.

China Focus: The Chinese Government recently announced a host of economic policies to assist SMEs during this challenging time. What are your thoughts on these measures?

Steven Lynch: We welcome the Chinese Government’s foresight in offering support to SMEs, many of whom are facing significant financial challenges. Policies including deferred tax payments, insurance premium subsidies and reduced rents, among other offerings, are certainly welcome measures. Our members hope that these policies will be explicitly made available across China to foreign-invested SMEs as well as domestically-invested SMEs. We also hope that there will be appropriate support for companies looking to apply for assistance.*

According to China Daily, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce said on February 25 it had kicked off a two-week survey on 720 foreign enterprises in the city to help them better resume operations and attend to any unmet needs in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The commission also intends to widen the reach of the research to over 50,000 foreign companies in the city. Other Chinese provinces and cities are expected to launch similar favorable policies for both domestic and foreign businesses to help them restore normal operation and offset negative impact from the coronavirus outbreak.

By waffa

The Chinese capital, like other cities far from the epidemic’s center, has imposed restrictions and shut down public spaces, in a bid to manage the spread of coronavirus but what's it like for those expats living under the lockdown?

It’s been almost a month since Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China, was placed under quarantine, and my husband and I, like many millions of other people in China, have confined ourselves to our apartment building here in Beijing.

As the lockdown wears on, days are starting to blur together. Every morning, I reach for my phone as soon as my eyes open, and check the dashboard tracking new confirmed cases of coronavirus, number of new deaths, and number of recovered and discharged patients. The numbers are starting to look much better than before. I pore over the latest news for an hour or two, torn between fear and hope, new measures to stem the coronavirus’ progress, new speculations and many scenarios. But everything feels far away from my 10th-floor apartment.

Within these windows and walls, we were cocooned in our own little world. The only times we venture beyond our apartment door is to pick up deliveries or to walk our dog. Riding down the elevator that smells sharply of disinfectant is always a good reminder to wash my hands every time I walk through the door. Feeling isolated from the outside world, tech has become my lifeline, providing a conduit for my shopping, work and social activity.

“Should we leave?” I remember that first time I asked myself this question, it was during the early weeks of the outbreak when nothing was clear and all I could see was people panicking on social media. Despite the calm façade I was showing, you could still feel my anxiety simmering darkly, and it got much worse after all these calls we received from our worried families and friends urging us to come home while we still can.

But I kept thinking, “Why are we even considering fleeing? Is a few weeks’ confinement in the comfort of our own home really a good reason to panic and run away?” The answer is simply NO! With all that’s happening, it still isn’t a good enough reason for me to leave Beijing and go home, because Beijing is HOME…or it’s been one for the past seven years. This city has been and will always be my second home, where I’m happily living with my small family (my husband and my dog).  

If this doesn’t sound entirely logical for me to be so keen to stay, then maybe the following reasoning will do. Beijing is in good shape, and the situation seems to be going in a positive direction and on its way to be under control in the upcoming few months. Grocery stores are stocked, and we are getting everything delivered without any issues. Even the frenetic, ice-in-their-veins food and package couriers are required to wear masks at all times and their temperatures are checked daily to make sure they’re healthy. 

“Should we leave?”

Our residential community has also endorsed a “no outsider” policy, which means no strangers are allowed in, and all residents are requested to fill out some registration forms at the guards office, then you’ll be given an entry/exit pass that you’re required to declare every time you wish to get back in, along with the regular temperature and mask checks. This has been widely adopted by most residential compounds and villages in the city.

Fliers from the Beijing government have been posted on every door in our apartment building, urging everyone to take necessary precautions. Residents were encouraged to avoid crowded places, stay in as much as possible, and seek out medical help in a timely manner if they show any symptoms of fever, cough, etc. By all appearances, most Beijing residents have accepted the official advice and simply stayed home.

As for work, we’ve been asked to work from home till further notice. Everything seems to be going as normal, other than we’ve stopped changing out of our pajamas. Working remotely for long periods of time made me see how getting ready to go to the office every morning can be an actual blessing; that I could have never thought of if it wasn’t for the lockdown!

Unlike the pin-drop-quiet streets outside my apartment, my virtual social life has been actually busy. My day is mostly spent on various social media platforms, gathering news from different sources and posting the latest updates about the epidemic outbreak. But it wasn’t until today when it suddenly came to my attention how the coronavirus has been causing more damage than I’ve ever imagined. In addition to the human suffering, the current coronavirus outbreak has also sparked rumors, misinformation, false alarms and conspiracy theories. As someone who works in media, part of me felt responsible to help correct these misconceptions and provide a true picture of the current situation.  

Beijing in the Time of Coronavirus 

Chinese people are without a doubt fighting a very serious battle against the epidemic, especially those in Wuhan. I’ve been watching frontline medics in Wuhan fearlessly risking their own lives to save others. I’ve seen the strict measures of the Chinese government to prevent and control the spread of the viral pneumonia, not only protecting its own people, but also protecting people all over the world.

The openness, transparency, responsible manner, and the timely effective measures that China has been displaying through this critical time have left me with all the faith and confidence in the capability of China to win the battle against the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. 

A Ray of Hope 

On February 23, a volunteer checks her phone during a break in Wuhan, a subdued city as of late.

 (courtesy of China Pictorial)

On February 20, an employee of China Post Ningxia Branch in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, disinfects parcels at a sorting center. Many delivery companies have now resumed operation. 

Tu Guangming, a courier with China Post Group, delivers parcels at the gate of Wuhan Sports University. Wuhan is still not allowed to ship outgoing items, but people within the locked-down city can now receive shipments as usual. 

(courtesy of China Pictorial)

On February 13, two members of a women’s cycling team of the traffic police brigade in Shouning County, Fujian Province, attach a sign reading “wash your hands frequently” to a motorcycle. Since the epidemic outbreak, the team has been publicizing epidemic prevention tips by hanging signs and filming short videos.

On February 19, a child poses for a picture in the square of Confucius Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The scenic spot, once closed for epidemic control, has now reopened with appropriate precautions.

By Jon Taylor

Imagine the U.S. Government shutting down almost all forms of public transportation, a substantial number of international airline flights, all schools and many businesses during the period between Thanksgiving through the end of the Christmas season and beyond. That is what is currently going on in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, with what has become possibly the largest quarantine in human history.

Faced with a spreading epidemic, China's Central Government responded with greater speed and transparency than during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003. Unlike the SARS epidemic, when the nation was criticized for withholding early warning information that delayed effective response efforts, the central authorities have handled the novel coronavirus emergency in a much more systematically effective manner.

The Chinese government shows its transparency and effectiveness in the fight against the epidemic

Some claim that China has been less than forthright and has lacked in transparency. If that were really the case, then the epidemic would have been relegated to mere rumor, and allowed to run unchecked and unreported. That has not been evidenced. Once the sheer scale of the epidemic became apparent, the Chinese Government's response to the outbreak was swift.

Chinese media began publicizing information regarding the then-unexplained viral outbreak as early as December 31, 2019, only a couple of weeks after the first case was reported. Chinese authorities also shared the virus' genetic sequence in early January to support the diagnosis of potential patients around the world, as well as aid in the creation of vaccines against the virus.

The first evidence of the virus emerged in December 2019 and authorities went public with it in January. Simply stated, there has been institutional learning on the part of the state. Was it perfect learning? Of course not. An evolving emergency typically creates an environment that initially tends to foster imperfect learning. That said, scholarly work in disaster and crisis management tells us that the learning curve rapidly improves with robust information, field experience and the rapid deployment of assets. During the current epidemic, China has demonstrated better learning than it had during SARS.

China has no reason to fabricate coronavirus case numbers when the nation's political and economic survival literally depends on properly eradicating the disease. Governments, irrespective of political system, still have to govern. China is no different. It still has to run a country and attempt to be successful. Therefore, real statistics and insights matter. To dismiss the numbers at face value is intentionally naïve. The idea that China would completely fabricate case numbers when the spread of the disease could threaten the nation's social stability and the government's legitimacy is ludicrous. There may be some methodological shortcomings or critiques, but people must realize that China has an interest in getting this right.

It has made great efforts to refute the assumption that information coming from China cannot be relied upon. Not only are official updates of current figures regularly published, the World Health Organization has stated that the Chinese Government is committed to preventing the epidemic and cooperating with other countries on the issue. Even U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, neither close friends of China, have praised the country for both its efforts and transparency.

Yes, mistakes were made, as they always are at the onset of a rapidly evolving emergency. This does not excuse those mistakes, particularly ones made early on by local authorities in Wuhan and Hubei Province where it is clear that local officials in Wuhan could have, and should have, reacted much earlier.

Transparent efforts

Millions of Chinese were confined to their homes as part of epidemic prevention efforts. They had to make daily calculations about how and when to go out to find food and other necessities in order to keep themselves and their families out of harm's way. Many heroic individuals have made tremendous sacrifices on behalf of their nation and their fellow citizens. And the Chinese Government has engaged in the herculean task of temporarily shelving portions of the country's economy to prevent the further spread of the virus.

If China had quarantined Wuhan and not quarantined other areas of the nation, the world would have likely reacted to this negatively, condemning China for not being sufficiently serious or attentive. However, we know that this was not the case. China acted decisively. While there may be a debate as to how perfect the strategy has been, China has demonstrated that it is capable of enacting powerful and prompt quarantine measures to prevent the spread of infection.

Rapidly addressing the emergency at the national level, the Central Leading Group on Responding to the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Outbreak, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, was established on January 25 during a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Two days later, Li arrived in Wuhan to guide the epidemic control work in Hubei.

Despite the extreme complexities of the epidemic, the outbreak has exposed some deficiencies in China's current early warning mechanisms for major events such as public health emergencies. These concerns relate to issues of the national governance system and governance capability that were raised by President Xi Jinping and emphasized in the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in October 2019.

There are more than enough reasons to believe that the series of decisive actions taken by the government during the past few weeks to address the epidemic have helped fight the virus and gradually end the emergency. Just as important, based on what has been lost and gained in this process it will serve to further implement and realize China's goals of modernizing its national governance system and governance capability.

The outbreak of the virus has shaken China and has raised concerns around the world. Nevertheless, it is similar to challenges that China has faced before. China will control and mitigate this virus soon enough thanks to the efforts of both Chinese researchers and those from around the world. The Chinese people have shown remarkable solidarity, courage and dedication. It cannot and must not be seen through the lens of a science fiction movie or politicized cheap shots by certain commentators that result in unnecessary panic, turmoil and distrust.

Effective action

The author is chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography and professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio

By Bai Xu | Xinhua

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, two notable media reports concerning the United States have gone viral in China.

One is that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed up to 100 million US dollars in emergency funding to help China combat the epidemic. In a letter to Bill Gates, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he deeply appreciates the act.

The other is US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross' much criticized remarks that the disease in China could help quicken the pace at which jobs and manufacturing return to the United States.

The sharp contrast between the two suggests that some US politicians' xenophobic sentiments against China are not shared by the good-willed majority of the American people, who are working for a closer China-US relationship amid the epidemic.

Earlier this week, some 70 Americans who teach Chinese children online English courses donated thousands of masks to China through their employer VIPKid, a Chinese online education platform.

One of the teachers, Juliet Hooks from Pennsylvania, bought 1,800 masks and wrapped them up in boxes decorated with Chinese characters translating to "Be strong, China). Another, Kelsey Covington from Virginia, chose to wear a T-shirt with a world map on which China was marked with a big red heart.

Hundreds of adoptive families across the United States have joined in the Chinese-launched Masks for Orphans fundraising project, donating over 20,000 masks to 50 orphanages in China.

From a warehouse in the US state of California, 1.8 million masks and 80,000 disposable medical gowns were shipped to China thanks to US humanitarian aid organization MedShare, with support from US enterprises like Coca-Cola and UPS.

Statistics show that as of Feb. 2, 188 foreign companies have donated 1.096 billion yuan (about 157 million US dollars) to China, of which US companies have donated the most.

Ian Lipkin, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University who worked together with Chinese scientists during the SARS outbreak in 2003, has teamed up with his Chinese counterparts once again.

As the American people are offering their assistance against the epidemic, those aforementioned US politicians should stop engaging in anti-China rhetoric, listen to the voice of the majority, and take the COVID-19 outbreak as a chance to promote deeper China-US cooperation in coping with unconventional challenges for the benefit of all.

On the one hand, they need to understand that no one can stand alone against a global public health emergency in today's highly interconnected world, and that cooperation, not confrontation, is the only solution to beating a deadly virus that knows no borders.

Differences and collaboration can go hand in hand. Just as Vice Chair of Indonesia's Center for Strategic and International Studies Jusuf Wanandi said, "amid competition, there is always room to help each other, particularly in an epidemic of this scale."

On the other, they must realize that as the world's top two economies, China and the United States need to shoulder the responsibilities of major countries in the face of an unconventional global challenge.

"This is a time for global solidarity -- political solidarity, technical solidarity and financial solidarity," emphasized Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization.

As the fight against COVID-19 is entering a crucial stage, the two countries should work together to set a good example of global solidarity, making concerted efforts to safeguard international health and security, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

A week ago, I was returning to Slovenia from London via Germany and Italy. The whole travel was normal – with, perhaps, fewer passengers at airports than usual.

However, at our final stop at the airport of Trieste (Trst), on the Italian side of the border with Slovenia, we were received by health workers in protective gear, who measured our body temperature.

A few days later it was officially announced that the coronavirus hit Europe in unexpected places in northern Italy. This is no longer a matter of an individual case but a beginning of an epidemic. Stories about the COVID-19 are now dominating the media in Europe.

At the same time, major battles against the virus have been continuing in China. While the war against this outbreak is not yet over, the experience of China has already offered some key lessons for the world. It is now necessary to think clearly and act decisively in each country affected by the virus, as well as at the international level.

This is not the time for media speculation, politicization and panic. The coronavirus disease is akin to a natural disaster with global effects, requiring serious actions by governments and responsible discussion in the media.

Fortunately, the World Health Organization and global health cooperation can be of help. Their activities are critically important for the world to understand the experiences of China. In the past days, these experiences were explained most eloquently by Dr. Bruce Aylward, team lead of the WHO-China joint mission on COVID-19, who returned from China recently.

Aylward reported that in Wuhan, which was the first place hit by the virus, the peak seems to have been passed and that the disease is in sharp decline. In addition, he conveyed the key messages, important for an understanding of the struggle against the virus in China. They included the main lessons to be internalized by policymakers everywhere in the world when confronted with this decentralized epidemic.

The following three key requirements are essential:

First, adjust your mindset. It is important to understand that the virus can strike anywhere and soon. This must not lead to panic but to preparedness for resolute response. When the virus hits, it has to be stopped – and stopped as close as possible to the place where it occurred.

Second, work with the people. People should be prepared for the virus and explained that an organized and disciplined action is absolutely necessary. People should not neglect the basic precautions such as frequent washing of hands and covering coughs.

Experienced epidemiologists know that people behave rationally when they are intellectually and emotionally prepared for the possible outbreaks.

Third, strengthen the capacity of the health centers. Good organization, an effective assistance to people showing the symptoms of COVID-19, good organization of separate spaces for patients and ensuring adequate protection gear and equipment for the health workers and health institutions are among the key conditions for successful fighting the virus.

These requirements have been applied in China and represent an experience of global importance. There is little doubt today that China is succeeding. In fact, China may end up coming stronger out of the ordeal.

Success in the fighting the COVID-19 will deepen the understanding of the need for quality development that will be needed for further progress and economic performance of China. Development of the health care system is an essential part of quality development.

At the same time, the current stage of war against the coronavirus disease puts three tests before the political leaders everywhere in the world:

The first test relates to the task to adjust the mindset of the political leaders themselves to the need to act decisively and to lead the people in a manner that strengthens solidarity. The political leaders who like to emphasize their "values based" policies will have to show their ability to lead in a crisis situation in a manner that actually respects and upholds such basic human values like the right to life and the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

The experience of China should help them to make the right decisions in a timely fashion and to avoid mistakes that usually happen in the early phases of an emergency.

The second test is one of international solidarity. Not all of the countries of the world are prepared to cope with an outbreak like the current COVID-19. There might be a need to help with technical assistance, medical personnel and equipment. 

And again, the experience of China and the experience of cooperation between different Chinese provinces could help. Naturally, it is more difficult to organize effective assistance internationally than within a single country – even if that country is as large and diverse as China. But the basic principle of solidarity is the same.

This week the EU has decided to devote significant funds for assistance to countries in the world that need assistance in equipment and personnel. This is a good sign to be followed by effective action – wherever needed.

And the third and final test relates to global cooperation. There is much discussion about multilateralism in the world these days. It should be clear that multilateral cooperation in fighting the coronavirus disease is an important test for the international community as a whole. The World Health Organization is showing the way.

The United Nations is developing its inter-agency, system wide activation procedures which should help in the current and future emergencies. All member states of the United Nations and all parts of the UN system must be engaged. This is not about public health "only." This is a critical test of multilateralism and of the ability of the world to move towards a shared future – a better future for all. 

People in some provinces in China have returned to work. How is the situation and how is the risk to be infected?

Some places like Shanghai and Guangdong have resumed work. Shanghai's Pudong New Area has introduced a series of supportive policies, including rent reduction and exemption to help companies resume production and reduce the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, according to local authorities. So far, 66 percent of industrial enterprises above designated size in the Pudong New Area have resumed work. South China's economic powerhouse Guangdong Province has launched the country's most speedy mask production line to bolster the national fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak. The factory in Guangzhou, with a capacity of assembling 1,000 medical masks per minute, and 1.2 million per day, is also believed to be among the fastest in the world.

What has Chinese government done to encourage work resumption?

China's central bank has implemented four measures to promote work resumption during the COVID-19 outbreak, a bank official said at a press conference on February 25. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has injected relending funds of 300 billion yuan (US$42.7 billion) to national banks and local banks in the worst-hit regions, which is the first measure. The bank's second measure is to ease the pressure on the repayment of loans for companies that have difficulties making repayments due to the impact of the epidemic. PBOC will increase the credit support, which is the third measure. The fourth measure aims to optimize the credit structure and improve service efficiency, and the policy will tilt towards small- and micro-enterprises as well as private companies.

Will the new coronavirus co-exist with humans for a long time?

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is likely to turn into a flu-like chronic illness, co-existing with human beings. Unlike the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, which kills the host very quickly, and then struggles to survive, it's possible the new coronavirus can become seasonal flu. We know very little about the new coronavirus. Some people are infected with the disease, but asymptomatic at the initial period, while some have severe symptoms. However, many experts across the world believe that the virus itself will be less deadly after several generations' evolution.

Can COVID-19 spread via clothes, hair or skin?

The chance of the virus infecting people via contaminated clothes is extremely low. As long as an individual has not been to places with high infection risk, such as visiting a patient in a hospital or having been exposed to people with typical symptoms of the epidemic, there is no need to specifically disinfect the clothes. 

Do you think this epidemic will affect China's trade, cooperation projects and cultural exchange with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)? 

The outbreak has indeed posed a challenge to China's economy and foreign exchange. But it is only temporary. The Chinese economy has great resilience, potential and vitality. We have the confidence and capacity to defeat the virus.

We appreciate and laud the political and material assistance from BRI partners after the epidemic broke out. We will continue to work with them for high-quality BRI cooperation while jointly overcoming difficulties on the way ahead.

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